MLB Player News

The Marlins optioned Bellozo to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Bellozo made two starts for the Marlins, permitting five runs with a 10:1 K:BB over 10 innings of work. His turn in the rotation will come up Sunday and it's not clear at this point who Miami intends to use to fill that slot.

Blach gave up one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out a batter out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Brewers.

Blach made his second relief appearance since losing his spot in the rotation when the Rockies welcomed Kyle Freeland back from the injured list June 23. Over his nine starts with Colorado, Blach turned in a 5.83 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 46.1 innings.

Lopez will start on regular rest Sunday versus the Phillies for just the second time this season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lopez struggled in his last start Tuesday versus the Giants, allowing just two runs but walking four over five inefficient innings. Atlanta has baked in extra rest for Lopez whenever it can during the first half as the right-hander shifts from reliever to starter, but he'll take the ball on normal rest against the division-rival Phillies this weekend. With 79.1 innings in 2024, Lopez has already exceeded his workload from each of the previous two seasons.

Smith-Shawver (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Rome on Wednesday.

Smith-Shawver was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain back in late May but has been cleared to return to game action. The young right-hander should be an option for Atlanta's rotation shortly after the All-Star break if all goes well, although it's possible he'll remain in the minors rather than rejoin the major-league club.

The Brewers acquired Civale from the Rays on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league infielder Gregory Barrios, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Civale has an ERA north of 5.00 through 17 starts this season, but his xFIP is almost a full run lower at 4.09, and he should help stabilize the rotation for the division-leading Brewers. Shane Baz was scratched from his scheduled start for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and appears a likely candidate to replace Civale in the Tampa Bay rotation.

Cease (7-7) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up six runs on eight hits and two walks over 3.2 innings as the Padres fell 7-0 to the Rangers. He struck out five.

The right-hander got no help from his offense, but Cease created his own problems by serving up six extra-base hits, including a pair of homers by Nathaniel Lowe. Cease has been tagged for four runs or more in three of his last four starts, walking multiple batters each time. He'll take a 4.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 130:32 K:BB through 102 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Mena has joined the Diamondbacks' taxi squad and appears in line to make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Dodgers, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged Mena's presence in the clubhouse Tuesday and said that "if that does come up [Wednesday], [Mena] deserves the opportunity," per PHNX Diamondbacks. Mena is a 21-year-old right-hander who was traded to Arizona over the winter. He has spent the entire 2024 season to date with Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.90 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 89:38 K:BB over 82.2 innings spanning 16 starts. A road matchup against the Dodgers represents a tough landing spot, and most will want to wait and see how the youngster fares before considering him for a fantasy roster.

Lopez came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander blanked San Francisco through four innings but was far from efficient, and when he served up back-to-back solo shots to begin the fifth, Lopez got the hook after 101 pitches (57 strikes). He's walked four batters in two straight trips to the mound, while the 4.1 innings represented his shortest start of the year. Despite the recent stumbles, he still hasn't given up more than three earned runs in an outing in 2024. He'll take a 1.83 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 87:31 K:BB through 83.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Phillies.

Birdsong (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The runs came on back-to-back solo shots by Austin Riley and Sean Murphy in the second inning, but Birdsong otherwise shut the door over 87 pitches (57 strikes). The rookie right-hander hasn't exactly been dominant to begin his big-league tenure, serving up three homers and issuing five free passes in 9.2 innings, but he's giving an injury-depleted Giants rotation some length. Birdsong lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Cleveland.

Mercado (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Mercado's 1.71 Triple-A ERA translated well into the big leagues Tuesday, as he was able to silence the Cubs' offense during his first career MLB start. The only blemish on the 25-year-old's record came via a third-inning RBI double courtesy of Cody Bellinger, but the right-hander responded by throwing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings before being pulled. With Spencer Turnbull (lat) set to miss 6-to-8 weeks and Taijuan Walker (finger) out through the All-Star break, Mercado will almost certainly be granted another start -- tentatively scheduled to come Sunday in Atlanta.